Happy New Year !

Acupuncture May Work Better Than A Patch For Lazy Eye

The December issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology published a small Chinese study that found acupuncture worked better than an eye patch in older kids with lazy eye. Below are some excerpts from an article about the study, written by Alan Mozes for HealthDay.

~ Acupuncture may be an effective way to treat older children struggling with a certain form of lazy eye, new research from China

The 6 Most Popular Posts Of 2010

1. Flowers Used In Chinese Herbal Medicine

Long before western pharmaceutical drugs, flowers were used as herbal remedies and recorded use goes back to 500 AD. Chinese medicine for example has used flowers in herbal remedies to heal a huge variety of afflictions. Here are a few examples...

2. Doctors Using Acupuncture in Iraq During Drug Shortage

Iraqi doctors faced with a shortage of

Merry Christmas !

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday !

Want To Learn About Chinese Medicine? These 3 Books Are A Good Place To Start

Chinese Medicine Can Keep You Healthy This Winter

It is so cold here in Chicago, I am ready to move the Caribbean. A few years ago I was on vacation in Belize and spied an acupuncture office right of the beach. Maybe I should check back and see if the acupuncturist I met there needs a partner? Very tempting right now as I sit at the computer near my radiator which is not working! Anyway....

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a more temperate view

Acupuncture for Colic!

It is rare I get calls to treat infants, but a new study demonstrates the potential effectiveness of acupuncture use in this population. In a double-blind, randomized control study of infants of 36-week gestation or more with at least 3 hours of colic-related crying per day 3 times per week, found reduction in duration and severity with stimulation of acupuncture point LI4 for 2 seconds on one side and then the other for 6 sessions over 3 weeks. Longer retention and stimulation in previous studies had a more immediate effect, but this may pave the way for parental-administered acupressure at home as a viable therapy.

Read More

Lovely, Unique & Healthy Gift Ideas From Your Chicago Acupuncturist

Blooming Tea  - It's beautiful, unique, tasty, healthy and great for parties.

                               Tea Sampler From Traditional Medicinals
- My favorite tea brand. One of the few that has good quality herbs. As many of my patients know I often recommend their ginger tea.


Eye Pillow  - I love these, and use one almost every night. This eye pillow has wonderful lavender scent. It

Acupuncture and Ivy League Softball

Former Columbia softball player Keli Leong gets to revisit her former glory on the silver screen along Reece Witherspoon in the upcoming movie "How do You Know." What does this have to do with acupuncture?  Leong is currently pursuing her master's degree in acupuncture with a goal of helping treat athletes as she was treated when playing the game. Too bad there are no acupuncture scenes in the movie!

Read More

Insight

How often do you have a "light bulb" moment ? For me it does not happen often, but when it does it is always a defining moment. What do therapists say about it ? Find out in this post from my new favorite blog; Life Ain't For Sissies. written by my mother Dr. Linda Edelstein.

Psychologists call it insight but the feeling when it happens to you is, “AHA!”  It is a satisfying feeling of

Acupuncture Changes How The Brain Perceives Pain

The most common question asked about acupuncture is, “How does it work?” A close second is, “Is it all in your head (is it a placebo effect?)” A new study gets close to answering those questions. Researchers at the University Hospital in Essen, Germany, and their colleagues at University of Duisburg-Essen were able to locate the areas of the brain that are activated by acupuncture.  Using fMRIs (

What Are You Worried About ?

"As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can."  Julius Caesar

Come to Northwestern Hospital's Integrative Medicine Event This Saturday

Northwestern Memorial's Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness in cooperation with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University Presents; 

 Integrative Approaches to Cancer Care: Wellness, Health and Healing
Time: Saturday, December 11, 2010: 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Prentice Women's Hospital Room L North (3rd Floor) 250 E. Superior St., Chicago
Price

ACUPUNCTURE WORKS !

That is the title of an article from Time Magazine. They say, “the National Institutes of Health last week assembled a panel of experts… After three days of analyzing studies and interrogating practitioners, the panel was unexpectedly upbeat. ‘It's time to take acupuncture seriously,’ said its chairman, David Ramsay, president of the University of Maryland. ‘There are a number of situations where

A Funny Video Explaining Acupuncture

An unknown colleague created this video, "But You're Not Chinese," and it has been reposted by multiple acupuncturists on Facebook. It is a little over-the-top on the part of the acupuncture bear, but quite fun anyway!

Diet Guidelines for Menopausal Women

Eat the following vegetables in amounts that are moderate and satisfying; that portion should then be eaten regularly, perhaps 4 to 6 times a week.

- Asparagus: Helps cleanse arteries of cholesterol and is useful for vascular health. Too much can irritate the kidneys. It improves the feminine principle.

- Beets: strengthens the heart, sedates the spirit, improves circulation, purifies the blood, benefit’s the liver.

- Cabbage: Green and purple varieties. Helps mental depression and irritability.

- Food to build yin: wheat germ and its oil, mung bean, mung bean sprouts, string bean, seaweed, spirulina, millet, black bean, tofu, kidney bean, barley, and black sesame seed.

- Use restraint with alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, excessive and poor-quality meat.

- Important supplements: Vitamin E, B-complex, C, A and mineral calcium.

- Adequate magnesium and vitamin D from sunshine are necessary cofactors in calcium metabolism.

- Vitamin E stimulates production of estrogen. Wheat germ and wheat germ oil are especially good sources. Whole wheat also calms the spirit and strengthens the kidney-adrenal function. Take approximately 300 I.U of vitamin E three times a day at meal times if menopausal difficulties persist in spite of a good diet.

- For Chinese herbs, dang gui (angelica sinensis) brings relief from all symptoms. Also can use motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca).

- Aloe vera gel can be useful for those who don’t feel too cold. Use 2 teaspoons gel stirred into 1 cup of water 2 or 3 times a day.

- Royal jelly can notify  feminine hormonal system. A normal dosage is just 100-400 milligrams daily.

Source: Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford

Acupuncture Can Keep You Healthy In Cold & Flu Season

Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and cupping can all be very helpful treating colds, flu and sinus infections. If you take certain herbs or get occasional tune up treatments you often can avoid getting sick. in this article, from Acufinder.com, Diane Joswick L.A.c.  focuses on how acupuncture can remedy colds and flu.

Acupuncture for Prevention - Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can prevent

How To Have A Terrific Holiday Party ~ 5 Surefire Tips For Success

Are you a good hostess ? I try to be, but I know I'm still a work in progress. Lucky for me, and all of you reading this post. My mom has a Ph.D. and is here to help.

~We are headed into the season of social gatherings. For many people (especially those who suffer from anxiety), these get-togethers can be awkward or uncomfortable.  Hosts and hostesses hope that their guests will be comfortable

Chinese Medicine Has Solutions For Insomnia

No matter what complaint a patient presents to me, I listen for information about the two things that are vital to making anyone feel better. They are good sleep and regular bowel movements. This post, by Julie Lee, the founder of Unique Acupuncture, in Oregon, focuses on how to improve your sleep. We'll save "being regular" for another day. : )

~ One research study from the University of

Happy Hanukkah !

Acupuncture Is The NFL's Secret For Top Performance

How about having your own traveling acupuncturist?  That’s the height of luxury for most of us but, for some, flying your acupuncturist to your location is a necessity. If you are a professional football player whose body is treated violently every week, you will do almost anything to reduce your pain and increase the length of your career.  I don’t think of football players as people who

A Football Fraud-Acupuncture News Partnership

For once, I can actually post something relevant to two of my blogs!

The New York Times (normally not a name I trust in news) reported on a colleague dubbed "the traveling NFL acupuncturist." My issues, other than jealousy, is that the article does not say where she received her training and it seems she is practicing a "if it hurts, stick it" style of acupuncture. Granted, this is essentially the premiss of dry needling and medical acupuncture, but it is bothersome how much she is raking in for performing a best-guess procedure.

I reiterate, I am jealous.

I have often wondered why reports of professional athletes receiving acupuncture were few and far between, but with hope, news like this will get some of the pro and college teams interested in incorporating it into their programs.

And now, some predictions:

This weeks winners: Eagles, Saints, Bears, Packers, Titans, Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings, Giants, Chargers, Colts, Rams, Seahawks, Falcons, Ravens, and Patriots

It will not be 3 points that the Patriots win by against the Jets, however they will still think they are winning the super-bowl just because Rex Ryan says so and queek-by victories are still victories

In light of Drew B. winning the Sports Illustrated athlete of the year award, they will double the usual mentions of how much the city of N.O. has been through during their match-up with the Bengals (and TO will dominate this week again)

Acupuncture Helps Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injuries

In the last couple of years the military and Veterans have been using acupuncture more frequently and with success. Acupuncture has been used in Iraq and here at home to treat Veterans with PTSD and chronic pain. Acupuncture Today recently published this really well done article by Lynne Morgan, RN, LAc, OMD. She writes about the benefits of acupuncture for veterans with traumatic brain injuries

Have A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Black Friday Protest

The Doctor is in, more good advice from Dr. Linda Edelstein. Read this BEFORE you begin your holiday shopping!

I’ve been invited back to my favorite blog to talk about simplifying your life. The timing for this topic is perfect. We are entering a month long spree that ought to be named, “Adding Excess to My Life, to My Hips and to My Credit Card Balance”. The binge begins this week and

UNESCO Recognizes Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status.This is done to raise awareness and protect culture or natural sites.  All of the sites are things or places of special cultural or physical significance to the common heritage of humanity. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO  World Heritage Committee. According to Wikipedia, as

Yin Qiao Is A Must Have To Prevent Colds and Flu

My Chinese Medicine practice is in Chicago where the winters can be pretty rough. Colds and flu's are common. Everybody looks for relief so that they don't miss time at work and play. There is a wonderful Chinese herbal formula named, Yin Qiao (also spelled Yin Chiao), to consider when you start sniffling. It is a great first line of defense against the common cold. Yin Chiao comes in pill and

Buddha Knew How To Get His Point Across

"A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker."

Buddha

Call It Like It Is PLEASE!

The headline reads, "Ashland acupuncturist agrees to surrender license," but not because he is an acupuncturist. It is because he was practicing naturopathy without a license. Which he relinquished earlier this year due to complaints. My issue with this story is that the headline should have "Naturopath" in the title since that is the field of violation. Leading the story with "Acupuncturist" tarnishes the profession unnecessarily and inaccurately.

Read the story

The American Journal of Gastroenterology Reports; Chinese Medicine Is An Effective Treatment For Constipation

The American Journal of Gastroenterology, (2 November 2010) just published a study that found a Chinese Herbal Medicine – the hemp seed pill – to be an effective treatment for constipation. Trial 1 determined the optimal dosage of hemp seed pill from among three dosages. Trial 2, a randomized double-blind study, compared 2 sets of participants (experimental and placebo) for 2 weeks and 8

Acupuncture In A Music Video ? You Bet !

Acupuncture is serious work but, last year I had the opportunity to have some fun with my needles. My friend Don Pogany is the founder and creative director of a marketing company called Sticky. He asked me to place acupuncture needles in a model who was going to appear in his company's video. I had a blast on the set and here is the finished product....enjoy.

 Click here to see the video

Mayo Clinic ~ New Research Shows Qigong Can Relieve Chronic Pain

Qigong (also spelled Ch'i Kung and pronounced chee-gong,) means “energy work." It is both an art and science that uses breathing techniques, gentle, almost dance like movements, and meditation to clear, strengthen, and circulate the energy (Qi) in your body. It is a powerful system of healing developed in China that is finding its way into the U.S.. I know that many of you have heard about it and

What You Should Know About Those Stickers On Your Fruit And Vegetables

Do you know what the stickers on your fruits and vegetables mean?  I admit that until recently, I thought that they were placed on my apples to help the cashier scan items more efficiently. That may be true, but they are also useful to us and contain good information. Here is an article by Dr. Frank Lipman that explains the stickers very well.

~Although they seem like a nuisance, the stickers

Thank You To All The Veterans !

Acupuncture was used in 200 cases, in Baghdad, after cesarean births. Due to drug shortages, the acupuncture was used in lieu of oxytocin. The U.S. Department of Defense gave the New England school of acupuncture a $1.2 million dollar grant and here at home several veterans have received acupuncture to help with post traumatic stress disorder and pain relief. I'm glad that acupuncture has

Acupuncture Adventures in Nepal

Recently I wrote about the inspiring work of the Acupuncture Relief Project in Nepal and have continued to stay informed about thier work. On their blog, Leith Nippes, volunteering for the 6th time, wrote about working during a monsoon. She says,


~ The valley was bone dry when I last left and after 7.5 months without rain everything was covered in a heavy layer of dust. Today, the valley is

Acupuncture Is An Effective Treatment For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

If you, or anyone you know, has suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, you know what a debilitating, miserable disease it can be. People go through years of diagnosis and, until now, treatment has been spotty.  One study has come out of China that suggests that acupuncture may possibly be efficient in treating chronic fatigue syndrome. Another study, conducted in the U.S., successfully used

6 Easy Health Tips From Chinese Medicine

1. Have your water with no ice

"For digestion, our body needs the internal combustion of heat to transform the food and absorb the nutrients through our intestines. Ice, when ingested, becomes a coagulant and constricts our blood vessels and internal organs. The coldness of ice hinders the digestive process." ~ Sat Hon

2. Drink ginger tea

Ginger has been taken as a medicinal by

Get Fit, Be Full!

To preempt the upcoming belly bulge, this Holiday Season Jing is donating 10% of fitness, gear, and supplement purchases from JingBody to combat hunger with Dare to Care!

A member of Feeding America, the mission of Dare to Care is to end hunger in our community through partnerships, innovative programs, and community engagement. It is estimated 175,000 people are at risk for hunger across the 13 Kentucky and Indiana counties served by Dare to Care. Last year, over 192,000 people received emergency food assistance, including 40,000 children.

While I love helping people one-on-one, it is difficult to fit in extra voulenteer work with running a business, teaching, practicing self and family care, and working toward my doctorate. So far this year we have raised money for the National Alliance for Mental Illness, the Denny Crum Foundation, and the Red Cross. We hope to make a good showing for Dare to Care too!

To help out, go to www.JingBody.com and click on "shop." Feel free to contact me is you have questions on any of the program or products. Ge Fit! Give Back!

Start Dancing

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain."  

We Made Another "Top" List!

Online Medical Assistant named us one of the Top 50 Resources! The list has blogs from several different health care areas, both in and out of the US. Topics include everything from attending nursing school as a male or person with a disability, to HIPPA and hospice, to marketing and administration.

Check out Jing and some of the other mentions at: Online Medical Assistant

Thanks for another kudos!

Mariah Carey Credits Daily Acupuncture With Helping Her Get Pregnant

Here in Chicago I use Chinese Medicine to improve the fertility of my patients all the time.  Well it seems the starlets and songbirds of Hollywood are doing the same. Celine Dion recently gave birth to twins and credited acupuncture for helping her achieve her precious goal. Now Mariah Carey is saying that Celine inspired her to her to use acupuncture to conceive, and guess what... she's

Happy Halloween !

What Forgiveness Is, And What Forgiveness Is Not

From the blog ~  Life Ain't For Sissies 
By ~ Dr. Linda Edelstein

How do we forgive and move on?  It is certainly a process that takes time and energy. In the lists below, I have made a small beginning by spelling out what forgiveness is, and what forgiveness is not.

Forgiveness is:
A method (a process) of coping with your hurt and your experience of being treated poorly.
For your benefit,

Acupuncture Volunteers In Nepal Make a Difference In Thousand's Of Lives.

Have you heard of the Acupuncture Relief Project in Nepal ? It is worth knowing about. In 2008, this international community acupuncture group first sent acupuncturists with over 500 pounds of supplies to their clinic in Chapaguan, Nepal. Since than, thousands of patients have been helped by the Acupuncture Relief Project. The clinic provided health care and produced dramatic results, especially

Better Business Bureau

A few months ago we were asked to become members. Check out our official Better Business Bureau Seal of Approval Link:

Even President's Love Acupuncture !

The Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva "told a reporter with the newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo that he had no doubts about the effectiveness of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) after his Chinese doctor "cured his arthritis of the shoulder with some tiny needles". He even takes along his Chinese doctor on his overseas visits." I love it ! He's got my vote ! 

Now if only

Breast Cancer Patients At Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Are Receiving The Benefits Of Acupuncture

Earlier this month ABC 7 did a story on  Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where they have been using acupuncture to reduce complications for breast cancer patients.  The story followed Diane Miller, her doctors had to remove lymph nodes in her armpit and as a result of her breast surgery she has experienced fluid buildup in her arm. Diane has been receiving regular acupuncture treatments and found

Today Is National Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Day!

Don't forget to celebrate !
 

Fall Articles About Chinese Medicine

I regularly read articles around the web about Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. It's always fun to get new ideas and good information from other acupuncturists. Here are some excerpts from posts I've enjoyed.

Many people search the internet for good food choices and recipes. Chinese Medicine believes in eating in harmony with the season. In this post from ~ Are You Ready to Thrive?  Becca Seitz

When You're Pregnant Remind Yourself ~ "It’s not forever, it’s just for now."

Is pregnancy not what you expected? Are you surprised by the changes in your body ? Join the crowd. In my Chicago acupuncture practice I see a lot of pregnant women. Most of them have concerns over what is happening to their bodies. Being well informed can ease the fears that sometimes come with pregnancy. The following post by Amy Chitwood Burslem,  gives great insights into and suggestions for

My New Favorite

A few moths ago, my massage therapist turned me on to Genbook, an online scheduling system. I have been resistant to these systems for quite a while because I did not want my patients to feel like I was pawning them off on an electronic secretary. Not one to be accused of being a late adopter . . . . and having my scheduling system crash in August causing a lot of professionally embarrassing phone calls, I started playing with the system and found it very easy user friendly and a huge time saver. Patients can see what you have open (which you can change either by the day or with block of time in a day) they can schedule and cancel in time frames the practitioner sets up, appointments sync to a number of calenders, and it sends an e-mail reminder to the patient. Pretty nifty!

Check it out: http://www.Jing.Genbook.com

Chinese Medicine Teaches Us That Autumn Is the Season To "Let It Go"

I was watching Thinintervention on Bravo and saw Jackie (Trainer Extraordinaire) insist that the overweight, exhausted participants run holding the amount of their excess body weight on their shoulders. It was grueling just to watch !

When they were done and finally able to drop the weight to the ground she asked how they all felt getting rid of all that excess weight  - "FREE" was the cry.

Ginger May Block A Toxin Which Accounts For The Deaths of Over 300,000 Children A Year

Many times I have written about the many health benefits of ginger on my blog. This study done a few years ago in Taiwan gives hope to hundreds of thousands of young children in impoverished countries. WOW !

From Acufinder.com

Ginger: Tool in Global Fight Against Childhood Killer?
    
Could one of the most widely used herbs in cooking around the world be just the right medicine for one of the

Lao Tzu Knew What He Was Talking About

"Wise men don't need to prove their point.. men who need to prove their point aren't wise."   
Lao Tzu 
Famous sixth century philosopher from China

6 Of The Latest Research Studies In Chinese Medicine

I am always excited to report on the increasingly positive research regarding acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, So lets get to it.

1* Rush Medical Center, here in Chicago, is offering acupuncture to their pediatric patients with chronic illnesses. These treatments are part of a study to find out how acupuncture might help reduce pain in children and increase their quality of life. The

Denial Has A Purpose

More wisdom from my mom~Linda Edelstein, Ph.D.
There is no going back from understanding. 

I have a new book coming out early next year, What Do I Say?:  The Therapist’s Guide To Answering Client Questions.  It’s a book for graduate students and early career clinicians in psychology, counseling and social work. I wrote it with Charlie Waehler and we are now in the process of our final, final,

A Beginner's Guide To Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM, can treat many health issues. While Chinese Medicine is well known for pain relief, there is so much more it can do. Improved fertility, digestive disorders, allergies/sinus infections, stress relief, insomnia, women’s issues are just a few of the problems that can be addressed with Chinese Medicine.

Let me go over some basics. Chinese Medicine encompasses

Groundbreaking Study ~ Identifies How Acupuncture Regulates Stress Hormones That Impact Ovulation.

Most of us have assumed that stress has a negative impact on ovulation – it makes sense.  Well, we were right.  But better than being right, a new study identifies how acupuncture can regulate the stress hormones that impact ovulation and help women become pregnant.

From: The PRweb
By: Mairi Campbell - Acubalance Wellness Centre

Acupuncture Treatment for Infertility: Landmark Study Identifies

2 Great Books on Fertility

Both of these books offer good advice about enhancing your fertility.  

Taking Charge of Your Fertility ~ This book has easy-to-understand explanations of hormones, the menstrual cycle, menopause and how to tell when you are ovulating. Even if you are not trying to get pregnant this book will gives you a better understanding of your body.





The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness

How to tell if you're happy...

My sister and I

You Have A Sister ! 

"People with at least one female sibling report better social support, more optimism, and better coping abilities, according to a study presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference. Sisters appear to encourage communication and cohesion in families."

Love it ! This morning, my sister forwarded me this article ~ 9 Signs you're

The Challenge Is To Change Ourselves

"When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."
 Viktor E. Frankl

Back Pain Study

Brian Berman and colleagues of the University of Maryland School of Medicine published findings of a review of acupuncture for back pain in the July issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

From Psychology Today
 + Most people (70%) have experienced serious lower back pain; indeed, lower back pain is one of the most common reasons for visits to a physician. Low-back pain can be disabling, but usually the pain responds to treatment. Unfortunately some people (7%) develop chronic low back pain that cannot be resolved with drugs or physical therapy. Many of these people turn to alternative therapies, including acupuncture, for relief.

+ A study of 6359 patients suffering chronic lower back pain compared the results of providing these patients with acupuncture, no treatment, or treating them with mock acupuncture. The results showed that both the patients receiving real acupuncture and the ones receiving mock acupuncture experienced significant pain relief compared to people who received no treatment.

Chinese Medicine Is Not Just For Grown Ups

Children can benefit from both acupuncture and herbs. If your child is afraid of the needles there are other ways to stimulate points and the herbal remedies can be a healthy option. Last year a good friend of mine did a guest post on herbal alternatives for children. and just recently I published a post about Rush Medical Center, here in Chicago, which is offering acupuncture to their pediatric

New Study Shows Acupuncture Maybe A Potent Treatment For Depression

Many of the studies about acupuncture’s effectiveness come from Western medicine researchers trying to understand Traditional Chinese Medicine (an Eastern philosophy and practice) in terms of Western science.

Here is another one, and this one has implications for the treatment of depression. In this study, conducted at the University of New South Wales, healthy patients underwent MRI brain scans

Thanks for Making Us a Top Blog!

Wow - Acupuncture News was just voted brilliant! Here is part of the e-mail I received with links to other genius blogs like this one

Congratulations! Acupuncture News, was determined to be one of the best blogs to exude overall brilliance. And so, it has received our 2010 Top 40 Acupuncture Blogs award presented by Medical Billing and Coding!

You can see your name amongst our winners here at:
www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/top_acupuncture/#Acupuncture_News

Winners were chosen through a scoring system that included internet nominations, which came from your reader base!

And yes, I realize this is largely to get people to click on the link to the medical billing and coding site. Crafty, isn't it?!

Cupping Is A Popular Trend In Hollywood

Cupping fans continue to pop up all over Hollywood. Gwyneth Paltrow , Victoria Beckham and now Denise Richards have all shown off their tell tale marks. Last month the U.K. paper The Daily Mail published photos of Denise in Malibu, wearing a strapless maxi dress and cupping marks on her back. She gave the camera a big smile and I'm sure that is because she felt so refreshed after undergoing the

Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice......

Cinnamon, Gui Zhi, is one of the oldest spices around and it is mentioned frequently in the Bible as an ingredient for making holy anointed oil. even earlier, cinnamon received much attention in China. It is mentioned in one of the earliest books (approximately 2,700 B.C.) about Chinese botanical medicine.

Today, the cinnamon twig is one of the most important circulatory herbs in Chinese

"Water With No Ice, Please"

For years, I have recommended drinking plenty of water - but "no ice".  I always do this, strongly advise my patients to do the same and have successfully converted my family. Whenever we are eating out, we all look up at the waiter and ask, "Water With No Ice, Please."  I'm surprised that many people are still unaware of the benefits so, when I came across this article published on the

A Fabulous Fungus ~ Cordyceps

Last month I wrote about a heist in Vancouver, Canada of a Chinese Herbal store. One of the expensive items stolen was the well known Chinese cure all cordyceps. Many of you may ask what is so special about this fungus ? Well here is Cathy with an answer for you.
From pacherbsBy Cathy Margolin L.A.c.

Shopping at a farmers market is always a favorite activity of mine, checking out the best

“Old age ain’t for sissies.” - Bette Davis 

Ancient Chinese Medicine May Help Chemotherapy Patients

Yale University and a company called PhytoCeutica, Inc.,  recently published a study that has great potential for people who are undergoing chemotherapy. The researcher made a drug from boiling peony root, licorice root, red dates and skullcap root, all Traditional Chinese Medicine remedies that help the gastro-intestinal tract, especially when you are suffering from diarrhea, nausea and vomiting

Therapy For Adults With ADHD

My Mother loves blogging ! Here is a post from her blog, Life Ain't For Sissies, I thought my readers would find interesting and helpful. Enjoy !

For many children diagnosed with ADHD, the symptoms persist well into adulthood. When adults learn that these lifelong symptoms have a name, they are often greatly relieved. They have been thinking about themselves as lazy or disorganized instead

New Research~Acupuncture Is Effective For Turning Breech Babies

This article from Healthcmi, gives a informative and quick overview of recent research which shows that acupuncture and moxabustion can be effective tools in turning breach babies. While these studies are new, Chinese Medicine has been used to help turn breach babies for hundreds of years.

"New research shows that acupuncture is an effective method for turning breech fetuses to the proper

Tennis Star Uses Acupuncture For Hip Pain

Another Star Athlete Uses Acupuncture To recover from an injury ! On 8/27/10 the Associated Press reported that Kim Clijsters ,the former No. 1 ranked player, used acupuncture to help her hip which had been giving her problems on the court. The Belgian tennis player had an amazing winning streak at the U.S. Open and is currently ranked No. 3 in the world. She is now moving better, which helps

The Military Is Using Acupuncture As An Alternative To Painkillers

Stars and Stripes published an article last month about the Military using acupuncture as an alternative to prescription painkillers. The military seems to have an increasing interest in the many benefits of acupuncture and I hope it continues.

Read the following by

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago Offers Young Patients Acupuncture

This year ScienceDaily reported that Rush Medical Center, here in Chicago, is offering acupuncture to their pediatric patients with chronic illnesses. These treatments are part of a study to find out how acupuncture might help reduce pain in children and increase their quality of life. The acupuncture is used to relieve pain, nausea and fatigue. Here are a couple of excerpts from the article."

The Web That Has No Weaver

For those of you who are looking for a good place to start learning about TCM, this is a great book to read.

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine

"Completely and thoroughly revised, The Web That Has No Weaver is the classic, comprehensive guide on the theory and practice of Chinese medicine. This accessible and invaluable resource has earned its place as the foremost

Enjoy Labor Day !

"Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience." ~ George Washington"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." ~ Thomas Jefferson"No labor, however humble, is dishonoring." ~ The Talmud

How Acupuncture Works - East vs. West

From acufinder.comBy: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOMEastern Explanation: The Eastern Explanation for how Acupuncture works is that the life energy flowing through the body which is termed Qi (pronounced chee) can be influenced and balanced by stimulating specific points on the body. These points are located along channels of energy known as meridians that connect all of our major organs.

I Love This Quote

"Begin anywhere"John Cage

The Power of Silence

 Lao Tzu, a famous sixth century philosopher from China said: "Silence is a source of great strength." There are many types of silence, for example, anger, grief, sadness, or confusion. The most comforting of course, is the silence of peace and calm. Silent meditation, the practice of observing your breath, thoughts, feelings, sensations, and the existing moment is one way to acquire calm.

Rising Ire

There is nothing that gets my nurse cap and acupuncture robes more ruffled than unqualified practitioners claiming they are competent AND getting away with it. I will not rehash my position about "medical" and "dry needling" acupuncture programs, since I have already gone off the rails on this before. But I want to share a bit on a story I read today claiming a nurse practitioner who sees a few patients a week is only one of eight board certified acupuncturists in the US. Um, no. This is yet another in a crop of people who are dabbling in medicine without real training and part of a group that is advocating for acupuncture awareness. The problem is, these "medical" acupuncture associations do not acknowledge the NCCAOM, a body that certifies acupuncturists with master's level training, not continuing eduction level training. The other problem is, while they are gung ho on getting insurance and state-funded programs to get acupuncture coverage, they are advocating for themselves, not the profession. Here is my comment, just in case they decide not to publish it:

As an ANCC board certified family nurse practitioner and NCCAOM certified acupuncturist, herbalist, and diplomat in Oriental Medicine (practicing in the midwest where it is geographically impossible for Ivy League schools to exist unless the NCAA decides to restructure), I am curious where the "one of eight nurse practitioners in the United States with a board certification in acupuncture" statistic came from. How can one call themselves board certified in acupuncture yet simultaneously be "not an acupuncturist?" And which board is it? I did not see Boensch listed in the NCCAOM or Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine State registry. Tinkering in a medicine practice that requires a master's degree with residency is as unethical claiming you are qualified to be a primary health care provider because you passed a test and took a few weekend seminars. The Michigan Medical Acupuncture Association (which does not link to the NCCAOM) endorses a paltry 120 or 224 hour teaching certificate by the AMMA for health professionals. Would you feel comfortable if that was all the training requirement your MD needed to be certified in internal medicine or your NP in midwifery? Seeing a few patients a week does little to expand knowledge or practical application of education, and I wonder if the patients of these practitioners with limited training are getting better by accident, not by competence. While awareness of acupuncture is great, patients need to make sure they have well trained, competent practitioners, both treating them and representing profession.

And for anyone out there in an ire about me, as the gentleman was who accused me of being dishonest, misleading, and watering down the profession by using my earned and recognized DOM title (talk to the NM Board of Acupuncture or the AAAOM - I would welcome a national LAc credential over the hodgepodge of initials so many of us are sporting or making the DAOM the new minimum practice requirement and grandfathering in the MSOM folks), feel free to air out your concerns here!

The NY Times Weighs in on Acupuncture.

We made it!!! The New York Times has a new article about acupuncture - and it is a good one. The reporter presents a well balanced view to the debate about whether acupuncture works and notes the desire of Western doctors to explain this treatment in terms of a science that matches their training. Here are some excerpts but the entire piece is well worth reading.By TARA PARKER-POPE"There is

Learning the Truth; Elin Nordegrin

Another compelling post from my favorite blogger (my mom : ) Linda Edelstein P.h.d., be sure to check out her new website and blog.

Reading an except from People magazine’s interview with Elin Nordegren, Tiger Woods’s ex-wife, I was reminded of a dynamic that people often talk about in therapy after they have been surprised by some horrible revelation. Here is the portion from People:

“I’

Crises Can Lead to Personal Growth

From Therapy Evanston
By Linda Edelstein P.h.D.
 
There has been much good information written about the harmful effects of trauma, whether the damage was done from war, sexual abuse, violence, natural disasters or the other zillion ways of being harmed in this world. When I teach Adult Development to the Counseling Psychology graduate students at Northwestern University each Spring, we

Acupuncture is Effective for Back Pain

Back pain is a very common complaint in my Chicago practice. People come in experiencing many types of back pain. There is sciatica, tight muscles, disc problems and many more. Acupuncture is a very effective treatment for most causes of back pain.From Acupuncture TodayJuly, 2009, Vol. 10, Issue 07 Acupuncture Found Effective for Back Pain - Study finds it superior to usual care.

Check Out My Amazing Mom's New Website and Blog !

One of my favorite guest writers on this blog is my mother, who is also a psychologist. I am happy to announce that she has finally joined me in this brave new world called the internet. Here is her new website therapyevanston.com and blog, way to go mom ! 

Linda N. Edelstein, Ph.D.

I am a clinical psychologist who has devoted more than thirty years to working with individuals and couples. I

Research on Acupuncture for Migraines and Headaches

The Cochrane Review completed and update to their survey of acupuncture research and have found it a successful therapy in the search for relief from migraines and tension headaches.

One of the most exciting elements of this report is the explanation of why the placebo control groups often reported benefit close to the level of other participants receiving "real" acupuncture or "traditional" pharmacotherapy. Most of the studies using "sham" treatments as control populations were still receiving acupuncture therapy and therefore cannot be considered true placebos.

One of the issues with acupuncture research is the difficulty in standardizing therapy for the purposes of study in a modality that does not practice the western style cookbook-medicine. The detractors sum it all up by saying anyone who receives benefits from acupuncture must have had psychosomatic pain (aka: "it is all in your head"). While I expect these folks will embrace research demonstrating the effectiveness of acupuncture about as quickly as geocentrists accepted Galileo, having an evidence-based medicine giant may make them re-examine the research.

Acupuncture for Migraines and Chronic Headache

Miriam Lee Was a Pioneer in the Legalization of Acupuncture in the U.S.

Last year a leader in the field of Chinese medicine passed away. Her name was Miriam Lee. Amy wrote a memorial for this outstanding practitioner on her blog, the Portland Acupuncture Blog, and I am re posting it here.

a prominent figure in the legalization of acupuncture in the US, died at the end of June 2009 in Palo Alto, California. Lee is a well-known name in the United States for

Great News About Acupuncture From Australia

From News.com.au From: The Sunday Telegraph Read more: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/body-soul/acupuncture-the-new-painkiller/story-e6frfot9-1225904782211#ixzz0wtJakOkKBy Christina Larmer By Christina Larmer From: The Sunday Telegraph Read more: http://www.news.com.au/

Chinese Herb Store - Robbed !

Flooding in Canada has caused cordyceps, a very popular remedy in Chinese medicine, to become rare and rise in price. This has lead to stealing of the well known Chinese cure! This article from the CBC News in Canada reports on a recent robbery in Vancouver."Police are investigating a brazen robbery in Vancouver that may be connected to rising prices caused by Chinese floods.Three men walked in

Jennifer Lopez Used Acupuncture for Weight Loss

Yes folks another beautiful starlet has taken to the needle ! Famous women including, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, Celine Dion and Sheryl Crow, to name a few, have incorporated acupuncture into their lives. Celine Dion used acupuncture for fertility and Sheryl Crow as a way to help her through breast cancer treatments. Now JLo has joined the crowd. In a recent article, OK! magazine

Help Us Stamp Out Stigma!

We are participating in the NAMI walk for recovery on September 12th at Waterfront Park. Please click the link below to visit the team page for more information, to join us on the walk, or sponsor the team!

Stigma Stampers NAMI Walk Page

Last year was a great time and we hope to make this year even better!

Truth

“Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but usually manages to pick himself up, walk over or around it, and carry on.”Winston S. ChurchillDo you think this is true ???

Watermelon - The Fruit of Kings

Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits and I am in good company. This fruit was held in such regard that it was placed in the tombs of many Egyptian kings !Watermelon tastes great, quenches thirst, is an excellent source of vitamin C and lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant and has been found to be protective against a growing list of cancers. Plus because of it's thick skin the exposure to

Acupuncture is a Natural Cure You Can Trust

Prevention magazine recently recommended 9 alternative remedies and of course Acupuncture is one of them.Acupuncture for chronic pain"A rash of new research affirms this ancient therapy as a powerful head-to-toe pain reliever for a wide range of conditions. After as few as six sessions, people who suffered from regular tension headaches saw their symptoms disappear. Another new study found

Has The Wall Street Journal Become a Fan of Acupuncture ?

I've been happy to see that the Wall Street Journal has been taking an interest in acupuncture. Earlier this year WSJ's health columnist Melinda Beck got acupuncture on camera to reduce her neck and back pain, she reported that she felt better after two treatments. To read her article"Decoding an Ancient Therapy - High-Tech Tools Show How Acupuncture Works in Treating Arthritis, Back Pain, Other

Help! My Sad Face is Frozen!

As Judge Judy wrote, beauty is fades, dumb is forever. Not that anyone would suppose injecting an botulism toxin into the face would be the most intelligent beauty regimen, but it is a quick path to pretty without side effects, right? Some studies are showing that the lack of facial expressions have a negative impact on social interaction as it relates to non-verbal communication, but the inability to produce the full range of facial expression may effect the individual's ability to process their own emotions.

The desire to look as young as you feel in a youth-centric culture is adaptive, especially as we are living longer and harder lives. Hydration, eating a diet high in fresh, un-processed foods, getting adaquate but not excessive sun exposure, staying away from toxins (not injecting them directly into a wrinkle) and cultivating your internal happy go a long way in promoting your inner and outer beauty. Oh, and acupuncture helps too!

Botox injections put a crease in emotional evaluations (excerpt)

By Bruce Bower

Two weeks after their first Botox injections, 40 women took an average of about one-quarter of a second longer to read sentences describing angry and sad situations than they did immediately before the procedure, Havas and his colleagues found.

Critically, Botox patients show no decline in the speed with which they read sentences about happy situations, Havas’ team reports in an upcoming Psychological Science.

“These findings suggest that facial expressions are involved in assessing specific emotions or emotional situations,” Havas says.

Havas hypothesizes that Botox-induced paralysis of the frown muscle — which runs across the forehead just above the eyes, allowing it to pull the eyebrows inward and down — may gradually weaken brain circuits that coordinate negative emotions.

A 2009 fMRI study, led by German neurologist Andreas Hennenlotter, supports that idea. Women attempting to mimic images of angry and sad facial expressions displayed weaker activity in emotion-related brain areas two weeks after receiving Botox injections to the frown muscle, Hennenlotter’s group found.

Banishing frown lines with Botox can indeed have social repercussions, remarks psychologist Nicolas Vermeulen of Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. Previous studies indicate that mimicry of facial expressions critically aids in understanding others’ emotions, intentions and behaviors, he points out.

“Botox patients who are interacting with others behind a locked face might be at risk to react in the wrong way to, say, an angry driver or an angry customer in a pub,” Vermeulen says.

Read More From Science News

Ginger Has Many Health Benefits

Ginger has been used in Chinese herbal medicine since ancient times. My patients know, I recommend Ginger regularly for many health issues and I am not alone. HealthDiaries.com also knows the many benefits of ginger, check out the information their web site posted below."Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for many ailments for centuries. Now, science is catching up and researchers

The Future of Acupuncture News

The likelihood of my posting an article from the Las Vegas Review Journal is rather minute, but just in case, Acupuncture News will continue the tradition of writing comments about news and supplying a portion of the article with a link to the original report.

Why this announcement? Wired online reports that Steve Gibson, CEO of Righthaven, has begun acquiring copywrite rights to several publication for the main intention of to suing bloggers for re-posting articles. Not the friendliest solution to save the ever-diminishing cash flow of the newspaper industry, but since it is cheaper to settle than to battle, the strategy may work out.

In the meantime, more research and programs are opening up around the country using auricular acupuncture to treat out veterans suffering with PTSD. Check these out:

Research Call: Treating PTSD-related insomnia with auricular acupuncture

Bay Area Veterans' Acupuncture Clinic

Acupuncture Can Help Patients Going Through Cancer Treatments

Not only is it tough to get a diagnosis of Cancer but the treatment for it can be difficult and painful. Acupuncture is a wonderful complementary therapy; it can help ease many of the side effects caused by chemotherapy, as well as reduce pain, stress and improve your quality of life. Acupuncture Shows Promise in Cancer TreatmentBy: Acufinder.comThere have been many advances in the early

Herbal Coolers To Quench Your Thirst This Summer

It has been very hot and humid here in Chicago as in many other parts of the country. We can't change the weather but we can change what we put in our bodies. In this post Cathy offers up two great cooling drinks which are healthier than your average sports drink or lemonade.

From Pacherbs
By Cathy Margolin

Summertime is upon us and it’s heating up out there. Forget the lemonade and the

Happy Couple Credit Acupuncture For Helping Them To Conceive

I often write about the benefits of Chinese Medicine for fertility. Both Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can have a profound effect on improving fertility. I was happy to read this story of a very happy couple who have conceived twice despite the odds with the help of acupuncture.From NBC MiamiBy

Where is Your Mind Today?

"Where the mind goes, the Qi goes. Where is your mind today?"

The Chicago Sunday Tribune Featured My Acupuncture Practice

Acupuncture jobs on point: Chicago acupuncturist strongly believes in ancient approach By Christopher Nelson, Tribune Media ServicesJuly 12, 2010 Most professions don't let you stick sharp objects into others. Some exceptions to this rule would be tattoo artists, would-be assassins and those doctors who give rich,

Acupuncture Can Improve Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Heart Failure

A German study has found that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic heart failure. Dr. Johannes Backs, is the study director at Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany. Dr. Backs said: ‘ This is the first indication that acupuncture may improve exercise tolerance in CHF patients- when given in addition to optimised standard heart failure medication.’

Weight Loss & Sugar Cravings

 I've recently worked with several clients seeking help with weight loss. One in particular had sugar cravings, specifically, strong cravings for carbonated sodas. The sweeteners and artificial ingredients from the beverages created additional cravings for sugar as well as inflammation in her abdomen.

We decided to apply a acupuncture protocol often used for tobacco or drug addictions. It includes auricular needles with a small electric stimulation that is completely safe and comfortable. The result was amazing. My patient completely lost interest in sodas and sugar and is now happily drinking water with lemon. It was a natural transition from a state of imbalance to a more healthy state of harmony where the body craves what benefits it and dislikes that which is artificial or harmful.

I researched the topic and found this article to share.


I'm thrilled to help patients with their weight loss goals. The addiction protocol is simple, quick and effective and is certainly worth trying if you are struggling with unhealthy food or tobacco cravings.

I Don't Miss High School

Soon I will be talking to students from the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The topic is Chinese Medicine as a career option. What I find particularly funny is that when I was in high school I didn't even know it was an option! I'm lucky I figured it out! To learn more about this program that "Introduces outstanding high school students to

Happy Mommies, Happy Babies

Given the length of time it takes most anti-depressants to work and the growing body of research that indicates their use yields little effect in mild to moderate depression, it is great to see more investigation into non-pharmaceutical management of prenatal and antenatal depression. Acupuncture has helped a number of my clients taper off their medication while trying to conceive and assist them in managing symptoms of depression during the three stages of pregnancy. Many have been able to get through the postpartum period without having to resume their medication either! With hope, there will be more comparative studies that demonstrate the efficacy of TCM and other CAM therapies in the next few years.

Acupuncture Benefit Seen in Pregnancy

By Shirley Wang

Acupuncture designed to treat depression appears to improve symptoms in pregnant women, suggesting it as an alternative to antidepressant medication during pregnancy, a study found.

The study, published Monday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, is the largest to date examining the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat depression in pregnant women. It was funded by a grant from the government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. "Acupuncture that we have tested works for pregnant, depressed women," said Rachel Manber, a study author and professor at Stanford University. However, "no single study is enough to make policy recommendations," she said.

Depression in pregnancy is a risk factor for postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is associated in some studies with poorer cognitive and emotional development in children. Some have linked depression in pregnancy and low birth weight.

As many as 14% of pregnant women are thought to develop a significant depression at some point during their pregnancy, according to the study authors, comparable to numbers who suffer from postpartum depression. Antidepressants are generally considered safe for use in pregnancy, but research has been limited and concerns continue to grow, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. One study showed that the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension, a potentially serious lung condition, is significantly greater in newborns whose mother took antidepressants later in pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that patients and physicians "carefully consider and discuss together" the benefits and risks taking antidepressants during pregnancy."Antidepressants are not an attractive option for many women," said Dr. Manber. "Many women are concerned about using antidepressant medication during pregnancy."

Read More

U.S. Department of Defense Gives $1.2 Million Grant To The New England School Of Acupuncture For Research

Great News From Acufinder.com$1.2 Million Grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to Study AcupunctureBy: New England School of Acupuncture NEWTON, MA (June 23, 2010) - The New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) is the recipient of a $1.2 million U.S. Department of Defense grant to fund a first-of-its-kind clinical trial: the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Gulf War

Happy 4th of July !

Have a safe and happy Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

For those planning to celebrate this Independence Day with traditional grill outs, booze, and intense audi-visual stimuli, we will be here to help! Check out the new research showing how acupuncture helps increase exercise tolerance in heart disease.

Acupuncture ups exercise tolerance in heart patients

ANI, Jul 2, 2010, 10.00am IST

A new study indicates that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic heart failure.

Dr. Johannes Backs, physician and study director at the Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology - Medical Director: Professor Dr. Hugo Katus) of Heidelberg University Hospital conducted the clinical pilot study.

Patients with this disease suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue brought on by physical exercise.

The needles do not increase the heart’s pump function, but they seem to have an influence on skeletal muscle strength and thus can increase the walk distance that heart patients can cover.

In a study where patients were given ten sessions of acupuncture on points that boost general strength according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the results showed that these patients could walk longer distances, recovered more quickly and tended to feel subjectively less exhausted.

The scientists now plan to study whether relatively low-cost acupuncture can improve the prognosis for cardiac patients over the long term.

The findings have been published in the medical journal Heart .

Source

Jen Aniston Tries Acupuncture On The Advice of Sheryl Crow

Smart, talented women share acupuncture secrets.OK! magazine has a story that Jennifer Aniston took advice from Sheryl Crow and began acupuncture treatments. I guess Sheryl, who the magazine called “something of a health guru” had great success with her own Traditional Chinese Medicine.How did it work on Jen? “It’s reduced her stress, made her skin glow, helped her with weight loss and made her

Personal Eclipse

Ever feel you don't get enough of my posts? : ) Well I also write once a month for the site Hopeful Parents. Here's my (or I should say my mom's ) latest post, thought you might find it interesting.

This site is devoted to parents. It has seemed appropriate that, a couple of times in the past, I’ve turned over my monthly blogging spot to my mother, a clinical psychologist. I am doing it again

"Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden." Orson Scott Card

Suffer With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? Chinese Medicine Can Help You

Digestive problems are common reason people come to my office. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal Medicine can help with many uncomfortable symptoms. Such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea and nausea to name a few. All of these problems can happen when you are suffering with IBS. Chinese Medicine can help.....From: The Portland Acupuncture Blog By: Amy Chitwood Burslem LAc There are an

Tales from the Undertrained and Over-initialed

This story has been posted all over The Book of Face today by some fellow acupuncturists, and in keeping with my last blog entry I am following suit. Enjoy!

Abbreviated Courses In Acupuncture For Physicians Pose A Serious Problem

• Sometimes, understanding one’s background can clarify their particular point of view. So in the spirit of “full disclosure” I would like to tell you a little about mine.

  I began my medical career in 1979 when I received my MD degree from Albany Medical College. I trained in diagnostic radiology at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. I entered private practice and spent 20 years doing full-service hospital radiology. It was at the end of these 20 years that changes occurred in my life, changes that made me look at my direction and commitments. It was at that time in my career when I discovered acupuncture, and the power this medicine has to heal. Please understand, I was awestruck at the conditions acupuncture could effectively treat —- conditions that from my previous medical training I knew were precisely those no one wanted to get stuck with because there was no effective treatment. I am a fellowship-trained interventional radiologist, and I have put needles into arteries, veins, solid organs, abscesses, tumors, pleural cavities, peritoneal cavities….you name it. But I had never felt the pull of Qi on a needle, I had never intentionally manipulated a needle to achieve a specific energetic effect, I had never contacted the energy of a meridian, nor used needles themselves, as instruments of healing. Here was a whole new science to learn. And the amazing thing is that it has a 3000 year history with millions upon millions of people undergoing clinical trial in China for 30 centuries!

  Read More

Information About Organically Raised Meat

Yesterday I wrote a post about when to consider buying organic fruits and vegetables. I wanted to follow that today with some information about organic meat. Organically grown meat is considerably higher in price than conventionally grown meat so here are some facts that may help you to make your decision about when to buy organic.Organically raised animals have several factors that work in

How to Decide When Organic Produce is Worth The Extra Money

Organic fruits and vegetables can be expensive and I pick and choose the ones I buy. The big factor that influences my decision about buying organic produce is the level of pesticides used in their production.Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Pesticides are a problem because:*Pesticides can accumulate in your system. Most of us have been exposed to pesticides for so long that our

Suns Forward Grant Hill Gets Acupuncture Regularly

Last month NBA.com published a story about Grant Hill and other Sun's players who have used acupuncture to recover from injuries and ease pain. Below are some excerpts from the article."Hill is a 37-year-old NBA veteran who's had more surgeries than some medical classes over the past decade. He's doing anything he can to extend his 16-year career."" "I've always been open to different ideas,"

More of Dr. Oz's Thought's on Acupuncture

On this blog I've already written a couple of posts about Dr. Oz's fondness for acupuncture. Why should I end a good thing? Here is more from this celebrity doctor on the merits of acupuncture.On Oprah.com Dr. Oz was asked the questionQ: Does acupuncture really work?My Answer: Of Course!Dr. Oz's Answer: "Those little pinpricks can be an effective way to manage pain. Specifically, studies show

Doctors, excuse me, CHIROPRACTORS, using "Biomedical Acupuncture" as a Loophole for Practice

And not just chiropractors. Dentists, occupational therapists, physicians, and physiotherapists can all get on the medical acupuncture bandwagon. Some of these programs range from a whopping underwhelming 300 hour certificate to a dismal weekend course. Of course the proponents of this farce claim that acupuncture theory is too esoteric because it does not rely on sound anatomy and physiology.

Funny, I took A&P as well as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, lab data, western physical exam, nutrition, psychology, surface anatomy, and western pathology when I was in school. And those were not even 25% of my nearly 3000 hour graduate program!

But of course, this is all old news. The Medical Acupuncture Association has been around for ten years. And this is hardly the first time I have ranted about other disciplines encroaching on our territory without proper training.

What has me hot under the collar this time is the claim TCM is anecdotal while biomedical acupuncture is scientific - check out this zinger of a story.

The fact these "dry needling" techniques they teach in these seminars stems from over 3000 years of acupuncture theory and practice is apparently of no consequence. Oh yes, it is okay to jab needles into muscles and random trigger points (that's ashi points, those that have a real education in acupuncture know that already) and claim it has a "real" effect because it is causing a micro-trauma that stimulates the body's healing response. Not like that qi stuff that stimulates the body's healing response, no sir. When the point is needled, you are feeling the exact same sensations whether you call it a major quadratus lumborum trigger point or "Pi Gen," the difference is that in TCM, you are not just treating the branch symptom, you are treating the root cause.

The other reason I am so irritated is I just know insurance is going to start covering this nonsense. I already live in a state where legitimate acupuncturists cannot get in-network but at least chiropractors are banned, in theory, from practicing acupuncture without an acupuncture license for the moment (although they STILL put themselves in the phonebook under "physicians MD and osteopaths OD").

While the AAAOM is working to get professional parity through supposed acupuncture doctoral programs, our profession, which still does not have a national title and basic scope of practice, may just get pulled out from under us.

Acupuncture for pain relief

A study published May 30, 2010 through the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York found that acupuncture stimulates the release of the naturally occurring chemical Adenosine faster than pain medication. Adenosine is a chemical  released to help increase blood flow and dull the sensation of pain.

 From an article in News by the Second:

"It’s an interesting contribution to our growing understanding of the complex intervention which is acupuncture” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Rochester University.

Acupuncture for Eye Disorders

Acupuncture has been found to improve the eyesight of children suffering from lazy eye. Professor Dennis Shun-chiu Lam, who led the research, said the acupuncture accelerated the treatment response, improved the overall treatment results and shortened the total treatment duration. See details from the study here.

Acupuncture Linked to a Natural Painkiller - Adenosine

A new study about acupuncture has been getting a lot of attention the last few weeks. The research was published in Nature Neuroscience on May 30 2010. This study links acupuncture to the stimulation of a chemical compound called adenosine in the body. Adenosine is a painkiller the body makes when we are injured.Maiken Nedergaard , the neuroscientist who led the research, said: "Acupuncture has

Always Keep A Sense Of Humor

“If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.” Mahatma Gandhi

Cordyceps - An Amazing Herb Used In Chinese Medicine

Cordyceps is a very popular tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is often used in formulas and alone. Some people feel it rivals Ginseng as one of the best tonic herbs out there. To learn more about this powerful herb read on.From: The Portland Acupuncture Blog By: Amy Chitwood Burslem LAc Photo from:http://www.chinese-herbs.org/cordyceps/Cordyceps sinensis, or Dong Chong Xia Cao is yet

Get Acupuncture and Help Raise Money For The Gulf Oil Disaster

Do you need some acupuncture? Do you want to help the birds and the habitat of the Gulf Coast?You can do both on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Gulf Oil Disaster Fundraiser. The event is being held at 4101 N. Western Ave., in Chicago from 9:00 - 4:00. Mini and full treatments will be available, so make an appointment now! The Suggested donation is $30 for mini, $60 for full treatments. To make

Yoga On The Lake !

Those of you who know me personally know that I love yoga on the lake and it is back! These are great FREE Classes held Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings all summer here in Chicago. Maybe I'll see you there!

Acupuncture Reduces Pain and Increases Bite Force in Patients With TMJ

From Acufinder.comAcupuncture Effective for TMJ Patients suffering TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) can find relief from acupuncture. Research conducted at the Ribeirão Preto Dental School, São Paulo University in Brazil, found that after 3 months of acupuncture, patients with TMJ experienced significantly less pain, increased strength of their bite and decreased EMG activity of the

Celine Dion Used Acupuncture To Improve Her Chances Of Getting Pregnant

Singer Celine Dion, 42, is pregnant with twins after years of trying to conceive, This was her sixth IVF attempt. I was happy to see that CNN reported she used acupuncture to improve her chances of getting pregnant. Not only a wonderful singer but also a smart lady! Combining acupuncture treatment with IVF is becoming increasingly popular due to the good results and continued positive

Memorial Day

Have a Great Day!

Chinese Medicine and Diabetes

Did you know that Chinese Medicine can be very beneficial for people with Diabetes? Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help control blood sugar and diabetic neuropathies, as well as other issues that come up related to the Diabetes. To learn more read this post!From The Portland Acupuncture Blogby Amy Chitwood BurslemIt’s time that we knew the basics facts about diabetes and how it

A Happy Story - Puppy's Life Transformed With Acupuncture

Acupuncture for animals is becoming more popular everyday. I don't needle animals but I do try a little bit of acupressure on my cats and they seem to appreciate it. This story comes from England and I am happy to hear that Kai the dog has had so much benefit from acupuncture.From The UK News source The Dailymail onlineBy Sarah Stacey"I’m a firm believer in the healing power of acupuncture"When

A Chinese Wise Man Once Said...

"Opportunities multiply as they are seized."

Sun Tzu

An Ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is believed to have authored The Art of War, a famous and influential Chinese book on military strategy considered to be a prime example of Taoist thinking.

Doctors Using Acupuncture in Iraq During Drug Shortage

Great Information from Acufinder.com"Iraqi doctors faced with a shortage of anesthetic drugs in a capital city hit by years of conflict have successfully used acupuncture to treat mothers during cesarean section births.
In a letter published in the British Journal, Acupuncture in Medicine, Dr. Zcherky, the senior anesthesiologist at the Red Crescent Hospital for Gynecology & Obstetrics in

Chinese Medicinal Cocktails ???

The Vancouver Sun recently had an article that made me smile. Danielle Tatarin bar manger at the new chic Keefer Hotel in Vancouver, Canada has been mixing up cocktails with an Asian twist. Below are some quotes from her interview. Be sure to check out the original article as she even gives out one of her "ancient" cocktail recipes - The Tigers Tail. This Keefer Bar cocktail features

Another Reason To Be Grateful For All My Wonderful Girlfriends

I just read a very interesting article by Gale Berkowitz which talks about how having good female friends contributes to a longer, healthier, and more vital life. Here are some excerpts about this landmark study that came out of UCLA.UCLA Study On Friendship Among Women - An alternative to fight or flight"A landmark UCLA study suggests friendships between women are special.

Have A Very Happy Mother's Day !

Love You Mom, Thanks For All Your Support

Flowers Used In Chinese Herbal Medicine

Another creative and informative article by Cathy Margolin L.A.c.Flowering plants are smart. They know how to grab our attention and the attention of passing insects. Flowers are intentionally flaunting sex. Makes perfect sense really, since it's the flowers job to manage the reproduction of the plant. Plants produce beautiful flower petals of varying colors and shapes to advertise the

Something Special for Expectant Mothers - A Massage

Image courtesy of Birth Balance Blog From- workingwellresources - By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Prenatal Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer Prenatal massage therapy is an area that is generating more and more research. Right now a few of my massage clients are pregnant. I thought

Even Princes Get Scammed

A charity set up by Prince Charles of England that uses integrative treatments, including acupuncture, was reportedly shut down for fraud - money fraud and money laundering, not treatment malpractice. Of course, the buzz will be about "alternative" treatments rather than the fact that any administrator can have illegal business practices. However, it is a reminder to PLEASE, use trusted,

The Wall Street Journal Talks About Acupuncture

That bastion of conservative journalism, The Wall Street Journal, has a wonderful article on acupuncture. It is a good piece and there are some interesting pictures. Here are a few highlights."Acupuncture does have real effects on the human body, which scientists are documenting using high-tech tools. Neuroimaging studies show that it seems to calm areas of the brain that register pain and

Acupuncture and Spinal Nerve Cell Recovery

More research is coming out demonstrating acupuncture is an effective modality to help prevent further death and destruction of nerve cells in patient's with spinal cord injuries. I tried to locate the original research report, but my online sources were not forthcoming. It looks like Kyung Hee University is doing some pretty interesting digging into the effects of specific points like H7 demonstrating decrease in anxiety related to nicotine withdrawal (St36 failed to produce results), GB34 for Parkinson's Disease, and GB34 and GB39 stimulation after perfusion following an ischemic attack.

Acupuncture could help spinal recovery: study

By QMI AGENCY

A 2003 study showed acupuncture - a traditional Chinese medicine that treats pain by inserting and manipulating long, thin needles into various points of the body - can improve the sensory and motor functions of people with spinal cord injuries.

More recently, researchers at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, tried to find out why. The study's results were published in the most recent edition of Neurobiology of Disease.

The researchers damaged the spines of 75 rats. One third were treated with acupuncture.

After 35 days, the rats that received the needle treatment stood and walked better than those that did not.

What's more, the acupuncture-treated rats had less nerve cell death and lower levels of the protein that causes inflammation.

The researchers hypothesize that the needles cause a stress response in the body that lessens inflammation. The inflammation that occurs after spinal cord injuries causes nerve cell death and lessens the chance of recovery.

Source: Toronto Sun

Discover the beauty secrets of Chinese Herbs (natural facial mask)

Chicago First Lady Maggie Daley Speaks At New Cancer Center - That Provides Acupuncture

Chicago first lady Maggie Daley appeared at the opening of a cancer center in Chicago named after her and gave a warm talk. The Maggie Daley Center is part of Prentice hospital."The care center's "healing boutique" offers wig and prosthesis fittings, hats and makeup consultation, where patients can look at their options in front of a vanity mirror. Table massage, acupuncture and psychological

5 Acupuncture Studies That Show Needles Boost Fertility

I regularly treat patients to improve their fertility. Some are undergoing IVF or IUI treatments and some are not. Wherever you are in your attempts to get pregnant Chinese Medicine can help. Below are some relevant studies on the benefits of acupuncture for fertility.Acupuncture in IVF Linked to Lower Miscarriage and Ectopic RatesWomen who receive acupuncture during the stimulation phase of an

Legislative Update

Well, the bill to change our title to "Licensed Acupuncturist" did not pass, and that is a shame. However, we are still certified to practice, so at least we did not loose anything.

I am actually really surprised we did not get this through. The Kentucky Medical Association was so busy kicking up such a histrionic fuss over the proposed changes to the ARNP scope of practice legislation (sadly, also did not pass), that they they actually supported the LAc bill. But, as is the case with so much of politics, the backer of our bill irritated some fellow state senators and as a result, they opposed anything he brought to the floor. Lovely.

Isn't pride one of the 7 deadly sins?

But, in better news, check out this story from a soldier who underwent an extensive rehab program, including acupuncture, at the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Center at Fort Hood. I only wish they would hire trained acupuncturists instead of MDs who went to a seminar. Someday . . .

A US medic's tale of traumatic war stress treatment

Happy Earth Day!

This Sunday - Learn How To Grow An Urban Garden - For Free!

From: workingwellresources blogBy: Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Certified Wellness Coach, ASCM Personal Trainer Thinking about growing some of your own vegetables or herbs but not sure how to start? This Saturday, Appetite for Balance, a Chicago holistic nutrition group, and We Farm, is sponsoring the first a FREE Sunday in a series of Urban

Anger and The Element of Wood

Angry?We all get angry sometimes, right? I certainly can get furious and I'm sure many of you have plenty of angry moments. It hurts to feel angry and it is often treated as an unacceptable emotion. But, Traditional Chinese Medicine has a different view of anger.Classical Five Element Chinese Medicine theory says that each of each of the five elements has a particular emotion related to it. The

Taxes Are Due Today!

[On completing tax returns].This is too difficult for a mathematician. It takes a philosopher -- Albert Einstein

Acupuncture is Effective for Crohn's Disease

From Acufinder.com By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOMIn a study published in the journal, Digestion, acupuncture was found effective for treating Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disease which involves chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The main symptoms of Crohn's disease are abdominal pain, fever, fatigue and persistent, watery diarrhea. Symptoms range from

Spring Into Action With Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine in the Spring Posted by Amy Chitwood Burslem from the Portland Acupuncture BlogSpring is back , and even though it’s (still) raining here in the great Northwest, it’s time to at least start acting like summer is on it’s way! Spring cleaning season is a great time to clean out your closets, prepare for the potential summer abundance from our gardens by caring for the

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About Alexander Ho

Alexander Ho is a FCPMDAM licensed, nationally board certified acupuncturist. He graduated from Kuala Lumpur Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2008. Besides that, he is a FISAP certified fitness instructor and used to work in fitness club for 4 years.

Alexander becomes curious about Oriental Medicine since 1997. He found that he has a real talent and instinct for involving His knowledge of fitness and sport into Oriental healing profession. He then met Master Tan Boon Chung who is a well-known Chinese Medicine Physician, acupuncturist and I-Ching health divination researcher. Master Tan teaches him the knowledge of I-Ching for diagnose patient’s condition accurately.

Alexander continually learns and expands his skills. He regularly attends seminars to study both classical and newer forms of Oriental healing skills. He now specializes in Chinese Medicine Palmistry and Meridian Heat Testing research, which both systems are highly effective in determine the underlying health condition. He also keeps informed on latest research and maintains working relationships with medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, trainers, and nutritionists around the world.

Alexander’s gentle, mindful, and often humorous communication style helps his patients to relax with the healing process of acupuncture. They feel free to ask any questions and to explore their options. Patients often send their family and friends to Alexander with their highest recommendations.

Besides treating patients, Alexander’s future goal is to publish a few health books and provides a series of Traditional Chinese Medicine courses to people around the world.

Celebrities Love Acupuncture!

From: Acufinder.comEverywhere you turn; there are stories about celebrities getting acupuncture. Supermodel, Elle Macpherson, recently said in an interview with UK tabloid, News of the World, “I have acupuncture regularly and I see a Chinese doctor who treats most common ailments with herbs.”When asked how she maintained her health and well being, Elle answered, “I do choose to look after

Dental Patients Are Calmed By Acupuncture

The LA Times is on point again! The paper recently reported on a new study about acupuncture, here it is.Acupuncture can calm anxious dental patients, study finds "If you’re the type who gets anxious about visiting the dentist, you might think the last thing you’d want would be a bunch of extra needles. Apparently, you’d be wrong. A small study being

Happy Easter!

Sandra Bullock Gets Acupuncture 3 Times A Week!

Do you feel bad for Sandra Bullock? I sure do! With all the gossip and negative press surrounding her marriage these days it made me smile to see a recent report on the website Showbizspy.com about something more positive. Guess what that was???? An article on Sandra's "sharp new beauty regime" Acupuncture!“Sandra gets the treatment three times a week whether she’s at home on or on set” a source

Foods to Remove Harmful Environmental Toxins

 It is common practice to ignore our exposures to environmental toxins. The human body will detoxify under the right conditions, but the detoxification is less effective if the body's systems are already overwhelmed with toxins from processed foods and substances such as drugs, medicines, and alcohol. One way you can help your body detoxify is to choose foods for their medicinal value. The following are suggestions for some of the more common environmental exposures.

For exposure to toxic metals, consider adding the following foods to your diet:

• Garlic
• Seaweeds or Algin
• Miso
• Wheat or Barley grass
• Mung beans (to remove lead)

For exposure to minor doses of radiation, such as medical x-rays or other radiation treatments,  take one or two of the following daily for 3 days. For greater contamination, take one or more for several weeks:
 

• Seaweeds or Algin
• Miso
• Wheat or Barley grass
• Spirulina, chlorella, and wild blue-green micro-algae
• Panax and Siberian ginseng
• Buckwheat products
• Apples
• Fresh sunflower seeds
• Lecithin ( 1 teaspoon daily)
• Initate cell renewal: Essential fatty acids: 1 Tablespoon fresh flax oil daily

A fantastic external treatment for medical radiation exposure is to take a bath of sea salt and baking soda. Add 1 pound of both into a warm bath  and soak 20 minutes; rinse with cool water. Repeat 3 times a week for a month.  

There are also acupuncture and herbal treatments to assist in more targeted detoxification. Consult with your local acupuncturist for more options.